Apparatus for scarifying a railroad roadbed



July 11, 1961 R. G. KERSHAW 2,991,988

APPARATUS FOR SCARIFYING A RAILROAD ROADBED Filed Dec. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Royce GnKershaw Y y 1961 R. G. KERSHAW 2,991,988

APPARATUS FOR SCARIFYING A RAILROAD ROADBED Filed Dec. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N m INVENTOR. Roy KevsLaw Flttovnevs July 11, 1961 R. s. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR SCARIFYING A RAILROAD ROADBED Filed Dec. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Roy Kerslldw KJJ Rtt orneys July 11, 1961 R. G. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR SCARIFYING A RAILROAD ROADBED Filed D96. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIgI 5 I07 {l WM 50 INVENTOR. Royce G. Ke s/Law United States Patent O 2,991,988 APPARATUS FOR SCARIFY-ING A RAILROAD ROADBED Royce G. Kershaw, Kerslmw Manufacturing Company, P.O. Drawer 1711, Montgomery, Ala. Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 862,383 3 Claims. (Cl. 262-8) This invention relates to apparatus for scarifying a railroad roadbed and more particularly to such apparatus for scarifying the tie bed under removed crossties.

In my prior Patent No. 2,846,206, issued August 5, 1958, I show railroad scarifying apparatus in which scarifying tools are mounted on a pair of tool carrying frames which reciprocate transversely of the rails. The tools are mounted both inwardly and outwardly of the rails to s'carify ballast in the tie bed under a removed crosstie. While the scarifying apparatus disclosed in my above mentioned prior patent has operated satisfactorily, the entire length of the tie bed was not scarified.

The present invention provides scarifying apparatus for scarifying ballast on the tie bed under removed crossties while crossties are being removed and replaced which apparatus scarifies ballast for the entire length of the tie bed including the area under the rails, thereby facilitating the insertion of new crossties. At least one of the ballast engaging tools has a pair of laterally spaced teeth supported by a generally vertically extending shank with one of the teeth spaced laterally of the shank a distance at least equal to the width of the underside of the rail whereby one of the teeth extends under the base of a rail at the outer end of the working stroke of the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for scarifying ballast between crossties for the entire length of the tie bed including the area under the rails which comprises ballast engaging tools that reach under the rails to loosen ballast thereat.

Another object is to provide a scarifying tool for railroad scarifying apparatus which comprises a generally vertically extending shank having a pair of laterally spaced teeth on the lower end thereof with one of the teeth spaced from the shank a distance at least equal to the width of the underside of a rail so that the tooth may extend under the rail while the shank is disposed alongside the rail.

A further object is to provide apparatus for scarifying ballast on the tie bed of a removed crosstie and between existing crossties which comprises a ballast pushing blade mounted between existing crossties on the outer end of a reciprocating tool carrying frame and extending in a direction parallel to the rails to push ballast from the old tie bed of a removed crosstie thereby to facilitate the insertion of a new crosstie. v

v An additional object is to provide a plurality of scarifying tools on each scarifying member with the scarifying tools on one scarifying member being disposed in transverse alignment with the scarifying tools on the other scarifying member to form facing pairs of scarifying tools with one outer pair of facing scarifying tools having their inner teeth positioned on one side of the centerline of the track when the tool carriage frames are in'their innermost position and the other outer pair of facing tools having their inner teeth positioned on the other side of the centerline of the track.

I Another object is to provide ballast scarifying tools on reciprocating frames which are positioned centrally of the track in the innermost position of the frames with each tool having a pair of teeth spaced transversely of the rails with the outer tooth of each pair pointing in the direction of the adjacent rail to dig into the ballast as the frame is moving outwardly toward the adjacent rail, and,,the inner tooth of each pair pointing toward the far rail to Patented July 11, 1961 dig in the ballast as the frames move inwardly toward the center of the track. This provides a self-feeding feature as the teeth dig into the ballast on both the inward and outward movements of the tool carrying frames.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my scarifying apparatus comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a pair of intermediate ballast engaging tools which are mounted on separate frames with the tools meeting centrally of the track;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a pair of rear ballast engaging tools viewing FIG. 2 and showing their inner teeth disposed on one side of the center line of the track;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system; and,

I FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a modification of the ballast tools positioned outwardly of the rails showing the ballast tools being pivotally mounted and engaging a stop.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show in FIGS. 1 and 2 a railway vehicle indicated generally by the numeral 10 comprising a vehicle frame 11 having wheels 12 thereon adapted to ride on rails 13 which are supported by suitable crossties 14. An internal combustion engine 16 is mounted on vehicle frame 11 and drives a fluid pump (not shown) which pumps fluid from a fluid reservoir 17. A hydraulic motor 18 is mounted on frame 11 and is operatively connected to gear box 19 by sprocket chain 21. An output sprocket 22 of gear box 19 is connected to sprocket 23 secured to axle 24 on which wheels 12 are mounted. A sprocket chain 26 connects sprocket 22 with sprocket 23 to drive railway vehicle 10 when fluid motor 18 isactuated.

An overhanging supporting frame is indicated generally by the numeral 28 and is pivotally mounted at 29 to vehicle frame 11. Overhanging supporting frame 28 comprises longitudinal extending frame members 31 hav ing vertical frame members 32 and 33 secured thereto. Guideways indicated generally by the numerals 34 and 36 are provided on vertical members 32 and 33 to form a transverse supporting frame.

A pair of reciprocating tool carrying frames 37 and 38 having rollers 39 thereon are mounted in guideways 34 and 36 and move inwardly and outwardly of the rails in a transverse direction. The tool carrying frames 37 and 38 are shown in their innermost position in FIG. 2 with frames 37 and 38 being disposed directly adjacent each other. To move the overhanging supporting-frame 28 vertically along with the tool carrying frames 37 and 38, a pair of fluid pressure cylinders 42 and 43 is provided pivotally connected at its lower ends to vehicle frame 11 at 44 and pivotally connented at its upper ends to the overhanging supporting frame at 4 6. Thus, overhanging supporting frame 28 may be moved vertically about pivot 29 upon actuation of cylinders '42 and 43 to position my apparatus at the desired sca'rifying depth.

Hydraulic cylinders 45 and 50 are pivotally mounted at 47 to a bracket secured to supporting frame 28; Cylinder 45 is connected at its outer end to a bracket 49 secured to tool carrying frame 37 and cylinder 50 is secured at its outer end to a bracket 51' on {cool carrying frame 38. Thus, upon reciprocation of cylinders 45 and 50, tool carryingframes 37 and 38 move inwardly and outwardly of the rails. For further details of the frame and operation of my apparatus, reference may be made to my above mentioned prior Patent No. 2,846,206.

The tool carrying frames 37 and 38 are identical and carry my improved scarifying members thereon. An inner scarifying member 53- on tool carrying frame 37 and an inner scarifying member 54 on tool carrying frame 38 are positioned to scarify the roadbed between and under rails 13. An outer sc-an'fying member 56 is provided on each of frames 37 and 38 outwardly of rails 13 to scar-ify the roadbed from a position adjacent rails 13 to a position outwardly of the crossties. Inner scarifying members 53 and 54 comprise a plurality of ballast scarifying tools secured to frames 37 and 38 by holders 58 that extend downwardly from frames 37 and 38. See FIG. 3. Pins 59 and 61 secure the scarifying tools to holders 58. The plurality of scarifying tools comprise a pair of oppositely disposed outer front searifying tools 62 and "63 which are aligned transversely of the rails, a pair of intermediate scarifying tools 64 and 66 (see FIG. and a pair of outer rear scarifying tools 67 and 68. Tools 67 and 63 are identical in shape but face in opposite directions, tools 62 and 68 are also identical in shape but face in opposite directions, and tools 64 and 66 are identical. Front outer tools 62 and 63 are angled outwardly longitudinally of the rails in one direction and rear outer tools 67 and 68 are angled outwardly longitudinally of the rails in an opposite direction.

Tools 62 and 68 comprise a vertical shank 69 secured between a pair of holders 58 and having a horizontal support 71 extending outwardly from the lower end thereof. An inner scarifying tooth 72 is provided on tool 68 generally under shank 69 and is curved inwardly from the inner extent of shank 69 and is reversely curved at its lower end to point toward scarifying tool 67 and the far rail. An outer tooth 73 is laterally spaced from tooth 72 and is formed on an end of support 71 in transverse alignment with inner tooth 72. Tooth 73 is angled outwardly from shank 69 to point in the direction of the adjacent rail 13. Tools 67 and 63 comprise a vertically extending shank 74 having a horizontal support member 76 and an inner tooth 77 that is angled outwardly from one side of shank 74 and disposed generally under shank 74 in close proximity to tooth 72 on tool 68 to point in the direction of the far rail. A laterally spaced tooth 78 is disposed on the end of horizontal member 76 and is angled outwardly from the other side of shank 74 to point in the direction of the adjacent rail 13.

Intermediate tools 64 and 66 shown in FIG. 5 each comprise a vertical shank 81 with inner teeth 82 and outer teeth 83. Outer teeth 83 point in the direction of the adjacent rail while inner teeth 82 point in an opposite direction from teeth 83 toward the far rail. Tools 64 and 66 are in close proximity to each other when frames 37 and 38 are in their innermost position.

Upon reciprocation of the tool carriage frames 37 and 38, it is understood that the front outer tools 62 and 63 have inner teeth 72 and 77 that are disposed on one side of the center line of the track when frames 37 and 38 are in their innermost position shown in FIG. 2. The intermediate tools 64 and 66 have their inner teeth 82 meeting at the center line of the track and tools 67 and 68 shown in FIG. 6 have their inner teeth 72 and 77 meeting on the side of the center line of the track opposite the side on which tools 62 and 63 meet. Thus, as frames 37 and 38 reciprocate, the center line of the track is crossed by inner teeth 77 and thereby ballast is loosened across the entire width of the track. The teeth on each of the scarifying tools are spaced from each other a distance at least equal to the underside of rails 13 so that the outer teeth reach outwardly of the outer extent of rails 13 when frames 37 and 38 are at their outermost position so that 4 the ballast under the rails is loosened and no hard spots are left in the tie bed.

The outer scarifying members 56 are the same as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,846,206 and comprise a plurality of scarifying tools 86, 87, 88, which are secured to holders 89 by pins 90.

A ballast pushing tool 91 is mounted on a bracket 92 secured to an end of both frames 37 and 38. Ballast pushing tool 91 is connected by a pin 93 to bracket 92 and has a blade 94 on the lower end thereof adapted to engage and push ballast from the tie bed of a removed crosstie to facilitate the insertion of a new crosstie. Blade 94 is of a width substantially the width of a crosstie and extends in a direction parallel to the rails. As is well known, ballast tends to move into the space occupied by an old crosstie after the old crosstie has been removed and this hinders the insertion of a new tie. By pushing the ballast from the old tie bed of a removed crosstie which ballast rolls downwardly into the old tie bed, the insertion of a new crosstie is facilitated. By pivotally mounting tool 91, the pushing member 91 pivots about pivot 93 and rides over the top of the ballast upon the inward movement of frames 37 and 38. When the frames 37 and 38 move outwardly, tools 91 pivot downwardly and a stop 96 thereon engages the underside of the frame on which it is mounted. Normally, only one of the pushing members 91 is employed since it is desirable only to push ballast from the side of a track on which a new tie is being inserted. Thus, while two pushing members 91 are shown in FIG. 2, it is understood that normally only one of the members 91 will be employed depending on which side of the track the new ties are being inserted.

Referring now to FIG. 7 in which a schematic diagram is shown of my hydraulic system, I show a pump P pumping fluid from reservoir 17 to a valve bank 97 through line 98. Return line 99 returns fluid to reservoir 17 from valve bank 97. Valve bank 97 comprises valve 101 controlling the flow of fluid to hydraulic motor 18 through lines 102 and 103. Valve 104 of valve bank 97 controls the actuation of cylinders 42 and 43 to raise the overhanging supporting frame. Valve 105 controls cylinder 50 through lines 106 and 107 for reciprocating tool carriage frame 38. Valve 108 controls reciprocating cylinder 45 through lines 109 and 111 which reciprocates tool carriage frame 37. Suitable manual controls are mounted on the railway vehicle to control the actuation of the valves.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a modification of the outer scarifying member is shown comprising an outer scan'fying member 56 having scarifying tools 86, 87 and 88 pivotally mounted through pin to holders 89*. A stop 112 is welded to the outer side of holders 89*" and restrains the pivotal movement of tools 86, 87 and 88*. When frames 37 and 38 are moving outwardly, tools 86, 87*- and 88 engage stop 112 and scarify ballast in their normal vertical position. When frames 37 and 38 move inwardly, scarifying tools 86, 87 and 88 pivot about pin 90 and ride overthe top of the ballast. This is desirable when it is preferred not to move any ballast inwardly toward rails 13 but to flatten out the shoulders of the roadbed.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I have provided railway scarifying apparatus in which the entire length of the tie bed including the area under the rails is scarified thereby facilitating the insertion of new ties. Further, the scarifying tools are arranged with inner and outer teeth with the inner teeth being pointed or slanted toward the far rail for digging in the ballast when the tool carrying frames are moving inwardly, and the outer teeth pointing outwardly toward the adjacent rail in an opposite direction from the inner teeth so that the outer teeth dig in the ballast when the tool carrying frames move outwardly toward the adjacent rails. This provides a selffeeding feature which facilitates the reciprocation of the carriage frames. Further, a pivotally mounted ballast pushing blade is mounted adjacent the outer end of at least one of the tool carrying frames to push ballast outwardly from the tie bed of a removed crosstie so that ballast rolling into the old tie bed will not interfere with the insertion of a new tie. The inner and outer teeth of the inner scraifying members are spaced at a distance at least equal to the underside of the rails to reach under the rails and scarify the ballast thereat.

While I have shown my invention in more than one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for scarifying a railway roadbed between existing crossties, a vehicle adapted to run on rails supported by the crossties, a supporting frame mounted on the vehicle and extending transversely of the rails, a pair of oppositely directed tool carrying frames mounted in said supporting frame, means to reciprocate each of said tool carrying frames from a position substantially centrally of the rails to a position adjacent the nearest rail, an inner scarifying member mounted on each of said tool carrying frames adjacent the inner ends thereof, an outer scarifying member mounted on each of said tool carrying frames outwardly of the rails, a ballast pushing blade mounted adjacent the outer end of one of the tool carrying frames and extending in a direction parallel to the rails, said blade being positioned outwardly of the rails and of a width generally the width of a crosstie to engage and push ballast from the tie bed of a removed crosstie, said blade being pivotally mounted and riding over the top of the ballast when the tool carrying frame is moving inwardly of the rails while engaging ballast when the tool carrying frame is moving outwardly of the rails, said outer scarifying members being pivotally mounted to ride over the upper surface of the ballast when the tool carrying frames are moving inwardly, and stops engaging and preventing the outer scarifying members from pivoting when the tool carrying frames are moving outwardly whereby the scarifying members engage ballast in digging relation when the tool carrying frames are moving outwardly.

2. In apparatus for scarifying the entire width of a railway roadbed, a vehicle adapted to run on rails supported by crossties, a supporting frame mounted on the vehicle and extending transversely of the rails, a pair of oppositely disposed tool carrying frames mounted on said supporting frame in alignment transversely of the rails, means to reciprocate each of the tool carrying frames from a position substantially centrally of the rails to a position adjacent the nearest rail, a scarifying member comprising a pair of scarifying tools mounted on each of the tool carrying frames adjacent the inner ends thereof, the tools on one tool carrying frame being aligned transversely of the rails with the tools on the other each of the tools having a generally vertical shank and a pair of teeth on the lower end of the shank, the outer tooth of each pair of teeth being spaced from the shank a distance at least equal to the width of the base of a rail so that the outer tooth reaches under the entire rail to loosen ballast thereunder when the frames are in their outermost position, the inner teeth of the tools on one pair of scarifying tools being aligned transversely of the track with the inner teeth of the tools on the other pair of scarifying tools, and the aligned teeth being angled so that one pair of aligned teeth meet on one side of the center line of the track at their innermost position and the other pair of aligned teeth meet on the other side of the center line of the track in their innermost position whereby some of the inner teeth move back and forth across the center line of the track to loosen ballast thereat.

3. In apparatus for scarifying the entire width of a railway roadbed, a vehicle adapted to run on rails supported by crossties, a supporting frame mounted on the vehicle and extending transversely of the rails, a pair of oppositely disposed tool carrying frames mounted on said supporting frame, means to reciprocate each of said tool carrying frames from a position substantially centrally of the rails to a position adjacent the nearest rail, a scarifying member comprising three scarifying tools mounted on each of the tool carrying frames adjacent the inner ends thereof and spaced longitudinally of the rails to form on each scarifying member a pair of outer tools and an intermediate tool, the three tools of one scarifying member being aligned transversely of the rails with the three tools on the other scarifying member, each of the tools having a generally vertical shank and a pair of oppositely pointing teeth on the lower end of the shank, the outer tooth of each pair of teeth being angled outwardly to point toward the adjacent rail and the inner tooth of each pair being angled inwardly to point toward the center of the track, said outer tooth being spaced from the shank a distance at least equal to the width of the lower surface of the rail so that the outer tooth reaches under a rail to loosen ballast thereat, and the inner teeth of the outer tools on one side of the tool carrying frames being positioned on one side of the centerline of the track and the inner teeth of the outer tools on the other side of the tool carrying frames being positioned on the other side of the centerline of the track when the tool carrying frames are in their innermost position whereby at least some of the inner teeth move across the centerline of the track to loosen ballast along the centerline of the track.

tool carrying frame,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,801 Overmier June 15, 1926 1,687,313 Robb Oct. 9, 1928 2,219,160 White Oct. 27-, 1940 2,846,206 Kershaw Aug. 5, 1958 

